Automatic electric switch.



No. 843,276. PATENTED TBB. 5, 19o?.

W. T. IRISH. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1904.

y 5M, MAH;

UNITEDl STATES Parnivr` OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. IRISH, OF EAST ORANGE, NE'W JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed .Tuly 16,

To all whom, it 11i/ty concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. IRISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Automatic Electric Switches, of which the following specification and accompanyin drawings illustrate one form of the invention which I now regard as the best out of the various forms in which the invention may be embodied.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical center section of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof with the cover of the switch-box removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are details.

My switch is especially designed for use in situations where an electric circuit or circuits is to be opened or closed at a predetermined time, dependent upon the conditions of some operative device, such as a loat in a watertank.

I have illustrated the invention by an arrangement which embodies its application to a water-tank and make herein special claims to this particular feature.

Turning to the drawings, A is a, wallof a tank, and B is a closed box containing the switch, this box being provided on its rear side with a projecting sleeve B', which enters an opening through the wall of the tank and contains a shaft C, passing axially therethrough and provided with a stuffing-box inside the tank.

C' is a float mounted on an arm projecting from the shaft C and operating to turn the Shaft as it rises or fallswith the level of the water. `On the outer end of the `shaft C is secured an operating-lever D, while in proximity to this lever is mounted a second intermediate lever D'. The adjacent ends of these two levers are interengaged by means of a pin upon lever D', which enters a triangular opening in the adjacent end of the lever D. The remaining outer end of the two Ievers D and D' are joined by a strong spring S. Thesetwo levers and the spring constitute the actuating device of a switch-lever E,

pivotally mounted in a short stud projecting inwardly from the rear wall of the box B, on

which Stud the lever D is also mounted. The engagement of the switch-lever E with the actuating agency is by means of two lugs d', projecting inwardlyfrom the hub of the lever- D' and alternated in position with two similar lugs e on the hub of the switch-lever. These lugs are of such width as to permit Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5', 1907.

1904. Serial No. 216.791.

considerable lost motion between the two sets, as is particularly shown in the detailed drawing of Fig. 3. By this me ans the turning of the lever D and the lugs d d', aiiixed thereto, will first cause the operation of the lever E by the engagement of the said lugs with the corresponding lugs e, and after such operation the lever E will continue to move by its momentum a short distance until its lugs c engage with the opposite sides of the lugs d'.

ln F ig. 2 the parts are shown in a condition wherein the switch-lever is approaching its final closed-circuit position with the knifeblades O, mounted in insulating-blocks K on o posite ends of the switch-arm, engaging t e corresponding switch-terminals mounted upon the insulating-blocks G and G'. In this condition the spring S is tending to draw together the ends of the levers D D', the former lever acting as an abutment to the spring, and the latter lever, operated by the spring, is engaging the switch-lever E and pushing the blades O home against their contacts. The final position of the pin J will be one of rest at or near the tip of the triangular opening in the lever D. The lever D is at this moment in a position determined by the float C', which is at its lowest level and therefore acting to close the circuit of the pumpmo tor by which the tank is supplied.

Assuming next that the level of the water `in the tank rises to the desired height., it is manifest that the float C', rising w ith the water, will turn the lever D and move the lever D' by the engagement of the pin .I therewith to the left-hand side of the triangular opening in the end of the lever. 'l'his will finally bring the lug d against the lug e on the vswitch-lever at about the time VI hen the spring S is on dead-center nearly in line with the axes of the levers D and D'. A slight adover the dead-center, where it will tend to draw together the remote ends of the two levers, actuating at the same time the switchlever E to suddenly and positively withdraw the switch-blades from the terminal contacts and open the circuit. 'lhe lost motion between the switch-lever and the intermediate lever D' will permit an additional throw of the lover E, so as to produce a wide gap between the switch-contacts, as appears in Fig. 4, w herein the parts are shown in the condition they are in just after the spring has passed the dead-center and thrown the switch-lever.

IOO

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' mounted a junction-box F, which communi- 5 The arrangement herein shown is specially convenient and suitable for use With Watercates, through a tubesF, with the interior of the switch-box, and through this tube are passed the Wires which lead from the switchterminals to the external circuit. 'lhe lioatarm is removable from the sha-it C, so that in mounting the apparatus it is only necessaryto bore a hole through the wall of the tank,

from the outside. "l his serves to mount the it may be further secured by screws. remains to attach the arm of the ioat to the shaft C and make the usual electrical connections through the junction-box F.

What l claim as new, and .desire to secure lof an operating-lever D, an intermediate lever D, a spring S connectingthe remote ends of levers D and D and operating the levers over a dead-center, and a float or other operating device connected to the ylever D.

3. ln an automatic switch, the combina-v tion with an operating-lever and an intermediate lever having their adjacent ends in engagement by means of a pin in one lever engaging a triangular opening in the other, of a spring connecting the tvvo ends of the said levers, a switch-arm having a lost-motion connection With the said intermediate lever ed to the operating-lever.

4. In an automaticswitch, the combination with the levers D and D having their adjacent ends engaging by means of a pin in one lever engaging a triangular end in the other lever, of a spring S connecting the remote ends of the said levers and operating the lever D upon either side of a dead-center, lugs d on the hub of the lever D', a switch-lever E having'on itshub similar lugs e engaging with lugs e', electrical contacts controlled by the said switch-lever and a float or other operating means connected With the lever D. through which the sleeve B may be passed 5. An automatic connection-switch provided with an inclosing case having a roj ect- Aswitch-box on the outside of the tank, Where ,1 lt only ing sleeve adapted to traverse the wal of the tank, an operating-shaft passing through the said sleeve and provided on one end with means for attaching a float thereto, electrical switch-contacts, an actuating-spring for said contacts, and a connection between the said spring and the said operating-shaft for throWin the spring to one side or the other yof a dea -oenten 6. An automatic connection-switch provided With aninclosing box B having on its rear side a projecting sleeve B, an operatingshaft C passing through the said sleeve and adapted to receive a float at its inner end, a 'lever mounted on the opposite end of the said shaft, an actuating-spring C for the switchcontacts attached to said lever, together with the said contacts and electrical connections therefrom.

in witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand,`before two subscribing Witnesses, this 15th day of July, 1904.

WLLIAH F. lBiSH.

Witnesses:

G. W. Horrrrns, L. T. SHAW. 

